A large number of candidates who have not received their offer letters despite clearing the mandatory National Testing Service exam for appointment in government-run schools staged a protest outside the Karachi Press Club on Wednesday.
Dozens of the protesting teachers were rounded up by the police as they tried to march towards the Chief Minister House in the Red Zone.
The protesters claimed that they had passed the NTS exam for Junior Elementary School Teacher, Primary School Teacher and High School Teacher conducted in 2013, but they have yet to receive their offer letters. They gathered outside the press club where they shouted slogans in favour of their demands.
The police had erected roadblocks and barricades to stop the protesters from marching towards the Red Zone. However, the protesters removed the barricades as they marched towards the Chief Minister House, prompting a baton-charge from the police.
Dozens of them, including both men and women, were rounded up by the police, while some of them were also wounded during the baton-charge who were later shifted to hospital.
The protesters alleged that offer letters were only given to the "blue-eyed candidates" by the provincial education department. Some of the protesters had even scored impressive marks in their job tests, but still could not receive offer letters.
The protesters said that the Sindh High Court had given a decision in their favor seven months ago, but it has not been implemented by the provincial education department.
They demanded that offer letters should be issued to all the candidates who have cleared the mandatory NTS test for a job in the government-run schools. They vowed to continue their protest outside the press club until their demands are met.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 20th, 2022.
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